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Livable Streets Update

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 20

from the email:

Double Your Donation For Tour de Streets

TDM Photography

Tour de Streets is Saturday, September 7th — less than three weeks away! This annual event is turning 10 this year, and will feature a 10-mile urban bike ride, a 4-mile family-friendly bike ride, and a 3-mile walk. Don’t care to bike or walk? Simply join us for the party! Your participation directly supports all of our programs, including Vision ZeroBetter Buses, and the Emerald Network!

We just launched our $15K in 15 Days Donation Matching Challenge! Every donation between now and August 30th will be matched up to $15K! Registerdonate, or become a member before August 30th to have your contribution double!

Event Details:
Tour de Streets – 10th Anniversary
Saturday, September 7th, 9:00am-2:00pm
@ Turtle Swamp Brewing
3377 Washington St, Jamaica Plain 02130


Check out the Cambridge Vision Zero Progress Report

Nicolaus Czarnecki

Last week, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and the City of Cambridge jointly released a Progress Report assessing the City of Cambridge’s implementation of its Vision Zero Action Plan. The report outlines the City’s accomplishments and challenges faced in the first year after the release of the Vision Zero Cambridge Action Plan, and provides next steps for implementation.

We are committed to reporting on the progress of Vision Zero initiatives and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Cambridge on this report.

To read the report, click here.


Are You Ready To Vote in Upcoming Elections? Learn More About Local Candidates

LivableStreets and our Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition partners distributed a people-centered streets questionnaire to candidates in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville in order to help residents make informed choices in the upcoming election.

Here are three ways that you can use the candidate questionnaire:

  1. Read candidates’ answers to help inform your vote.
  2. Reach out to your local candidates to let them know that their answers to these questions matter.
  3. Forward this email to five of your friends. Encourage them to learn more and vote.

This election is an important opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter most to you. The leaders we elect will make decisions that affect the livability of our streets. So if you’re able to vote in local races, please head to the polls this fall! Here are the dates for upcoming municipal elections:

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 – Somerville Preliminary Election
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Boston Preliminary Election
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – General Election for BostonCambridge, and Somerville


Join Us For a Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon

The City of Boston and the MBTA are teaming up to improve bus travel experiences across Boston. These improvements can take many different forms. Come and learn about all the different tools that can be used to make bus trips faster, safer, and more reliable on Wednesday, August 21st.

Event Details:
Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon
Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
@ Central Boston Elder Services
2315 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02119


Join Us For MOTHERLOAD Film Screening

Feeling inspired by Tour de Streets? Join us a few days later, on September 15th, at a film screening about cargo bikes and learn why people love them. MOTHERLOAD is a crowdsourced documentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Kids are welcome!

Event Details:
MOTHERLOAD
Sunday, September 15, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
@ The Brattle Theatre
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA


Opportunities

  • City of Boston, Director of Engineering: The Boston Transportation Department is searching for a Director of Engineering who is well versed in state of the art tools and practices to create sustainable and multi-modal transportation networks including bicycle, pedestrian and transit focused street design and cutting edge safety treatments. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • ITDP (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy), Public Transit Manager: The Public Transit Manager will play a key role in overseeing the conceptualization, design and implementation of sustainable transport solutions. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • MBTA, various:
  • WalkBoston, Intern: WalkBoston interns gain experience in transportation-related planning and design, community engagement, advocacy, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. If you have an interest in learning firsthand how walkability affects community health, civic participation and overall quality of life, then an internship at WalkBoston could be a career-enhancing experience for you. To learn more and apply, click here.
  • City of Somerville, Pedestrian and Transportation Advisory Committee Members: Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee members: The City of Somerville is accepting applications to fill 10 seats on the newly formed Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee. The committee’s input will support and guide city policies and plans to make improvements for public transit riders and pedestrians. To learn more and apply (deadline: 9/6/19),click here.
  • UrbanAdventours, various: Do you love riding bikes and being outdoors? Are you looking for an active, hands-on job that provides a livable income? Urban Adventours (UA) is Boston’s Downtown Bicycle Shop, and they are looking for hard working people who are passionate about bicycles to help grow their fast paced, dynamic business. To learn more about open positions and apply, click here.

 


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Cambridge Bike Safety Update

Written by Boston Biker on Nov 02

from the email:

 

We wanted to update you on a few new action items for safer streets but first, a reminder about our petition campaign! We want to show city officials that people throughout Cambridge support a safe, connected network of protected bike lanes. Sign the petition here if you haven’t already and share widely!

 

1. Act Now for a Protected Lane on River Street – and an Implementation Plan for the Citywide Network

 

This Monday, there are two key bike related items on the Council’s agenda.

First, the City Manager is requesting funds to update the implementation plan of the bike network (see the second ask on our petition!) Additionally, there is also a request for a protected bike lane on River Street. Take action, more details below.

 

ACTION → Email [email protected], [email protected], and cc [email protected] and [email protected] and (1) request the council to approve the budget allocation for an implementation plan for the citywide bike network, and (2) let them know that the reconstruction of River Street MUST include a safe, protected bike lane.

 

If you can make it please show up on Monday Nov 5, 5:30pm at City Hall to speak in support of the budget item and policy order. Sign up to speak here or in person.

 

The implementation plan for a citywide bike network is potentially quite important, as this could provide a blueprint for implementation of the full bike network within 5 years, as our petition requests. We need to make sure that the council approves this budget item, and that the implementation plan the City comes back with lays out how a complete, safe, connected network of protected bike lanes across the city can be built ASAP.

 

The city is rebuilding River Street in 2020 and they have the opportunity to include a protected bike lane. Since River Street goes inbound it would complement the Western Ave protected lane, providing a key connection to and from the Charles River paths.

 

On Monday November 5th the City Council will vote on a policy order specifically requesting a protected bike lane as part of the River Street reconstruction. The order was originally scheduled for this week but it was delayed by Councilor Simmons.

 

Also, as part of the redesign, they will be forming a working group of stakeholders and thank you to everyone who applied to help advocate for safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure!

 

2. Ask your employer to sign on to our business platform

 

Local business support can be crucial in getting safe bike infrastructure built. Many employers recognize that a protected bike lane network would be a great asset to Cambridge as well as providing safe transportation for their customers and employees. All we need to do is ask for their support!

 

If you work in Cambridge, see here for instructions to ask your employer to sign onto our business platform supporting safe bike infrastructure.

 

3. Other updates:

 

  • Read the beautiful remembrance written by friends of JJ Zhao who was tragically struck and killed by a dump truck driver in early October while she was walking at Putnam Ave and Magazine St.
  • World Day of Remembrance: This Nov 18 is the World Day of Remembrance. Come to the State House in Boston at 2pm to mourn the people who were killed on our streets this year. Last year’s event was a powerful reminder that the number of pedestrians and cyclists who were killed is much higher than you expect and that urgent action is needed to correct this public health crisis. After the vigil there will be a bike ride and a march to demand safer streets.
  • In addition to signing onto our business platform, two local businesses Industry Lab and Synapse Energy Economics also took the additional crucial step of emailing the city to express how important a protected bike lane network is to them (read Synapse Energy Economics’ statement here). Thanks Industry Lab and Synapse Energy Economics for supporting safe bike infrastructure!

 

Industry Lab is a co-working space located in the vibrant hub of Inman Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Inhabiting nearly 20,000 square feet of a historical brick building with wood floors and lots of windows, Industry Lab is a neighborhood for artists, engineers, scientists, and designers to co-exist and collaborate.

 

Synapse Energy Economics provides research, analysis, expert testimony, reports, regulatory support, and other consulting services related to energy, economics, and the environment.


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Bikes Not Bombs Update

Written by Boston Biker on Jun 19

On Sunday June 4th we welcomed 635 riders to our 30th Annual Bike-A-Thon! These hard working riders raised over $176,000 for our youth, international and bike shop programs. Over 130 folks joined us on our brand new 100 mile Century route and we were very impressed by our youngest rider to complete 10 miles on her own bike, 6 year old Nina.

Check out the full results and photos on our website and Facebook. Thank you to all of our riders, sponsors and volunteers for helping out!

We need feedback from those of you who attended! We’ve got surveys up for riders and volunteers, please fill them out by June 26th and you could win a gift card to Amsterdam Falafelshop!

 

Youth learning in Earn-A-Bike
Apply for Summer Earn-A-Bike!

We’ve got two sessions of Summer Earn-A-Bike rapidly approaching! Fill out an application today for either session.

Summer 1 will be July 10th to July 27th and Summer 2 will be July 31st to August 17th, both run Monday – Friday 2pm – 6pm.

Help with a container loading!
Help BNB Load a Container to Sierra Leone!

Come help load a container to Village Bicycle Project in Sierra Leone on Sunday, July 9th from 9am to 6pm. Feel free to come by for an hour or stay all day. We appreciate RSVPs in advance!

This is the first container we’ve loaded to Sierra Leone since 2013!

Join our Team!
We’re Hiring for the Shop!

We’re looking for bike mechanics to help out on a full-time seasonal basis, check out our job posting.

We’re looking for previous experience in a bike shop setting but all interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Please help spread the word!

Visit the Bike Shop!
Summer is Finally at the BNB Shop!

Come get your bike tuned up and ready to go for the season, or check out our selection of bikes for sale if you need a new ride. We’ve got a variety of new bikes from Bianchi and Raleigh in addition to our selection of tuned-up used and refurbished bikes.

Did you ride our Bike-A-Thon and wonder how you could get one of our stylish cycling jerseys? We’re doing a new limited run of this classic yellow and black jersey. If you’d like to pre-order to guarantee you get one, please call the Shop at 617-522-0226.

Upcoming Clinics:
Mon 6/19 7-9pm AEAB Alumni Night
Tues 6/20 7-8pm Flat Fixing
Tues 6/27 7-8pm Basic Repair & Maintenance
Mon 7/10 7-9pm Femmechanics

Come work with us!
Support BNB With Your Purchases This Summer!

 On June 21st attend the Laugh While You Can Comedy Benefit Show at the Midway Cafe! The show runs from 6-8pm and tickets are $10, buy online.

Tuesday July 11th 5:30pm to close, eat at Tres Gatos in JP and a 10% of all sales will benefit Bikes Not Bombs! Make a reservation today.

Mark your calendar, on Tuesday August 15th we’ll be at Flatbread Somerville in Davis Sq. for a benefit night!

Bernie
Volunteer of the Month – Bernardo Cruceta

Bernardo is an avid cyclist who encourages other young people to cycle and use their bike as a source of transportation, and has been such a help to Youth Programs that we can’t imagine last Spring without him. On top of his amazing cycling and wheelie skills, Bernardo is a trustworthy mechanic. He helped lead safety checks on all of the Girls In Action participants’ bikes before graduation and is frequently requested at our weekly Bike-In. Most importantly Bernardo is a kind spirit that strives to bring peace to the world. Thank you Bernie!


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Livable Streets Update

Written by Boston Biker on Jun 19

From the email:

———–

What’s happening

3 reasons to sign up for Tour de Streets today

TourdeStreets.jpgTour de Streets is LivableStreets’ biggest fundraiser of the year, and – more importantly – it’s a ton of fun! Here are three reasons to sign up today to join us on September 9th:

  1. The location is amazing. With views of the Boston skyline, a playground, skate park and beautiful patio to enjoy live music and delicious BBQ after your ride, can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday in September?

  2. It honors lives lost to traffic crashes. Tour de Streets celebrates the life and spirit of Bob Zeeb, along with other members of our Metro Boston community whose lives have been lost to traffic crashes.

  3. It’s a great way to show your friends why you care about our streets. You can create a team and get your friends and family involved. Plus anyone who donates $25 or more gets a ticket to the BBQ!

register.png
 

Welcome to our summer interns!

Ashley_Pryce_headshot_June_2017.png Liana_Genito.png Carlo_Urmy.png Jessica_Mosco.png

We are excited to welcome a great group of summer interns who are contributing to important initiatives like the Emerald Network and Better Buses. Learn more about our summer staff here!


Support the omnibus road safety bill

unnamed.jpgOn June 13, members of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalitiontestified in support of elements of An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities (S1905/H2877) – an omnibus road safety bill – at the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation hearing. If the bill is reported favorably by this committee, it will be sent on to the Ways and Means Committee in both the Senate and the House to determine if the Commonwealth has the means to enact such a law. Thereafter, the bill would go to a general vote, at which point your input with your local lawmakers becomes even more important. Please consider submitting written testimony in support of this bill.


Take the Sullivan Square Safe Streets Survey

Sullivan-Square-1.pngWe want to hear from you! Fill out the Sullivan Square Safe Streets survey. Employers along the Sullivan Square/Rutherford Ave corridor and transportation advocacy organizations are seeking to create safer places for walking, biking, transit and driving in the area. Fill out this survey to help us prioritize locations and safety issues – tell us which areas are most problematic and what would make your commute better! Survey link: https://goo.gl/forms/jKO5OH9ERy3kITKr1


Wins

Beacon Street Vision Zero meeting

beaconstmap_arlingtontomass-01.pngOn June 12th, the Boston Transportation Department presented their preferred design for Beacon Street in the Back Bay, a Vision Zero priority corridor. The proposed improvements include leading pedestrian intervals at crossings, removing a lane of vehicular traffic, adding a one-way parking protected bikeway, daylighting, and more.

Before June 30th, please review the plan for yourself, email [email protected] to submit feedback, and take BTD’s bike connectivity survey to advocate for improved network connections on adjacent streets. BTD will present a final design in September, and the project will hopefully be implemented before the end of 2017.

LivableStreets is working with our Vision Zero partners to deploy Street Ambassadors post-implementation to educate the public on how to properly use this new infrastructure. Interested in helping us spread the word? Reach out to Andrew at [email protected].


Silver Line “Better Bus” pilot has ended

SilverLine_BRT.jpgThank you to all of our amazing partners and Street Ambassadors who teamed up for BostonBRT‘s Silver Line Better Bus Experience. After watching bus after bus board passengers quickly and efficiently, it was clear that all-door boarding is critical to improving transit in the Boston area. LivableStreets will be reporting back on feedback and data collected during this demonstration. Also, BostonBRT will soon announce selections for its RFP process, and LivableStreets will continue to advocate for better service system-wide.

Want to see future improvements on your bus? Get involved in our Better Buses initiative, and join us for this month’s Advocacy Committee meeting on June 28th to brainstorm strategy.


Opportunities

The Boston Cyclists Union is hiring!

Boston_Cyclists_Union_logo.pngThe Boston Cyclists Union is looking to hire a Mechanic/Bike Repair Program Coordinator to manage the Dudley Bike Workshop and the Bike to Market Program. To learn more and apply, click here.


MassDOT is hiring a Complete Streets engineer!

MassDOT-Formal_Logo.jpgMassDOT is hiring a Complete Streets engineer. Spread the word so they can find great candidates. To view the job description and apply, click here.


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Livable Streets Update

Written by Boston Biker on Mar 13

What’s happening

Become_a_Street_Ambassador.jpgBecome a Street Ambassador

We are launching our Street Ambassador program for 2017 to directly engage the public in our Better Buses and Longwood Areacampaigns. We need volunteers who are passionate about improving transportation and are willing to help us collect feedback from the public. This is a great experience for anyone interested in grassroots organizing. RSVP with us for one of the following trainings:
Screen_Shot_2017-03-10_at_1.59.24_PM.png
Event Details:
Street Ambassador Info Session I
Wednesday, March 29, 6-7pm
@LivableStreets Alliance

Event Details:
Street Ambassador Info Session II
Wednesday, April 5th, 12-1pm
@Dana-Farber Cancer Institute


Take our Longwood Area survey

Take_our_Longwood_Area_multimodal_survey.JPGWe recently launched a new initiative in the Longwood Area in partnership with the Longwood Area Cyclists. Throughout 2017, we’ll be collecting feedback from the public while working with area institutions and partners to identify key problems and implement solutions. Please help us by taking the survey and spreading the word!


Wins

Celebrate the release of the Go Boston 2030 Action Plan

Go_Boston_2030_release.jpgAfter two years of outreach and dozens of workshops, the City of Boston has released its Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan, an unprecedented roadmap for the region’s mobility future. LivableStreets has been involved in this process since the beginning, and this ambitious plan encapsulates our vision for a Boston where streets are safe, equitable, and vibrant places for people. From Better Buses to the Emerald Network and Vision Zero, the proposed projects and policies directly impact our programs. Check out our overview of the plan here.

Now the hard work begins. Sign up as a Street Ambassador or join our Advocacy Committee to help us make this plan a reality. 


LivableStreets in the news

images.jpgOver the past month, our Better Buses and Go Boston 2030 advocacy has been featured in national and local media. Read CityLab’s pieceabout Everett’s pop-up bus lane and Boston’s efforts to roll-out similar bus priority measures. Also, be sure to check out what our executive director had to say about the Go Boston 2030 Action Plan in this WGBH News piece. Review all of our recent press coverage here.


Opportunities

Join us at Focus40’s “Ideas of March” event 

Ideas_of_March.PNGMassDOT’s Focus40 Team has received more than 3,000 ideas from the public about where they want to see our transit system go by 2040. Join us for the “Ideas of March” to explore these crowd-sourced concepts and learn how they’ll influence the T’s planning and future.

Event Details:
Focus40 “Ideas of March” Open House
Wednesday, March 15th, 5:30-7pm
@MIT Media Lab


Apply for a Neighborhood Slow Streets Zone

slowstreets.pngWant to see safer streets in your neighborhood? The City of Boston is now accepting applications for Neighborhood Slow Streets Zones, a program related to Vision Zero that aims to calm traffic in residential areas by redesigning them. Interested? Feel free to reach out to us if you’d like help applying. The deadline is March 24, 2017.


Join us at WalkBoston’s Annual Celebration

WalkBoston.jpgWe hope to see you at WalkBoston’s Annual Celebration to thank the organization’s for its over 27 years of incredible advocacy! Golden Shoe Awards will be given to City Council President Michelle Wu, Mission Hill/Roxbury activist Alison Pultinas, and Sarah Bankert, Caitlin Marquis & Dillon Sussman for their rural walking advocacy in Western Massachusetts. You won’t want to miss it! Register for the celebration here.

Event Details:
WalkBoston’s Annual Celebration
Wednesday, March 29th, 5-8pm
@Microsoft NERD Center


Submit your BRT station design proposals

brt_station_competition1.jpgHave you always wanted to redesign your local bus stop? Now’s your chance. BostonBRT is teaming up with The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) to find creative visions for what bus rapid transit stations could look like in Boston. Winners will receive cash prizes and a travel package to ITDP’s global Mobilize Conference in Santiago, Chile. Registration for the competition is April 5th, and the submission deadline is due April 12th. Check out the Boston BRT competition webpage for more important dates and guidelines.


Participate in Green Streets Walk/Ride Day Corporate Challenge

GreenStreetsFlyer_top-no_year-lt.jpgThe annual Walk/Ride Day Corporate Challenge is a competition among employers to determine which organizations are the green commuting champions. Encourage your employer to register for the 2017 Walk/Ride Day Challenge to participate (and win prizes!) by checking in online on the last Friday of each month from April through October when you walk, bike, take mass transit, or carpool to work!


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The Word On The Street

  • RSS Here is what people are saying

    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • Hello world! June 9, 2021
      Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Continue reading →
      thecommunityspoke
    • Run The Jewels Lead Free Pewter Hand Carved And Cast Pin Set January 3, 2021
      Made these lovely RTJ fist and gun pin set. Hand carved in wax, and then cast in lead free pewter.  Because these are made by hand you can do fun things like add an extra small pin so that they sit just so (also means they have “customized” brass back plates to accommodate the extra […]
      Boston Biker
    • My Work In The Wild: Feather Head Badge With Chris King Headset January 3, 2021
      One of my customers sent me this amazing picture of my feather badge installed on their (awesome!) bike.   Check out Manofmultnomah (here and here), apparently Chris King took some interest in it as well.  Want one of your own?  Buy it here, or here... Continue reading →
      Boston Biker
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg